GreenGeeks.com - Liars and Thieves - DO NOT BUY WEBSITE HOSTING FROM THEM. Fraud, Advertising Scam, Billing Scam, Credit Card Scam, Web Hosting Scam, Refund Scam, Thieves, Liars, Beware Agoura Hills CA/ INTERNET

We are a small non-profit. On 7/8 we learned about GreenGeeks.com on a non-profit resource website. They were listed as a great web host for non-profits. Clearly, that claim is not true or I would not be here filing this complaint.

On 7/8 I ordered a hosting plan from GreenGeeks.com. They are running a promotion for $4.95/month if you pay ANNUALLY.

When you order from these liars you'll get the first taste of their deception. I clicked the link to take advantage of this offer. Little did I know I would be the one taken advantage of. After clicking the link you're asked for your name, domain name, address, credit card info, etc. No where does their screen allow you to choose any options or speical features for the plan you are hosting. The last pricing and term information I saw, and agreed to by clicking the link to order, was $4.95/month ANNUALLY which they claim was $30 off their normal ANNUAL rate. In hindsight that was my first clue that something was off. I've never seen a site no list a billing summary at some point during the billing process and certainly, BEFORE the order is finalized.

After entering all of my information, including the credit card info., I was routed to a page that stated my account was not yet active and that it had to be verified BEFORE it would be active. No biggie. This should have been red flag #2.

The next day, 7/9 I saw that GreenGeeks.com had called to verify the account. I called them back and verified that we ordered the account.

A few hours later I received a payment receipt via email  stating that they'd charged my credit card for 148.20 (less the $30 promo) for THREE YEARS of hosting. Huh? How did 4.95/month ANNUALLY turn into 4.95/month TRI-ANNUALLY???

Still conused on that one.

GreenGeek.com's ad also EXPLICITY stated ZERO SETUP FEES! Tuck that one away for later.

So, I go to their chat, click "Billing" and chat with one of their very helpful (NOT) billing reps. I'm quickly informed I must EMAIL billing for billing related issues. They put decoys on the chat line. The real culprits to the operation can only be reched by email. So, I email billing@GREENGEEKS.COM and informed them that I wanted to cancel the plan because of their deceptive advertising and billing practices. I informed them that their ad does not state ANYWHERE on it that the plan was for three years.

For the next TWO DAYS 7/9 and 7/10 I went back and forth over email with GreenGeek.com's billing goons trying to get them to cancel the account. They kept emailing me back with fake apologies and counter offers. I kept declining all offers and asking to please cancel. During this two day exchange they kept trying to persuade me to go with the ANNUAL plan I was supposed to be placed on in the first place. Their annul plan was supposed to be 4.95/month * 12 months = $59.40. Instead they played a bait and switch and charged me for three years at 148.20 (again this is less the $30 promo code). When I declined to pay for their new switched plan and told them to cancel my account, they came back with an ANNUAL plan at 95.40 per year which works out to $7.95/month. What happend to the 4.95/month promo? I said no. Then they came back with a THIRD ANNUAL plan: 65.40/year which works out to 5.40/month. Again...no 4.95, their advertised rate is ever offered. And again...no mention, EVER of any setup fees AND an EXPLICIT statement of "ZERO" setup fees on their ad. How many ANNUAL plans can one company have?? Apparently an endless number because GreenGeeks.com offered me THREE within the span of 48 hours!

Any company desparate, greedy, and lowly enough to advertise an ANNUAL hosting plan, yet bill someone TRI-ANNUALLY is someone I do not want to do any business with. I would never trust these people with my website files. I just wanted away from them and they would not let go. Companies who offer great service will have customers knocking their doors down to get in. They don't have to resort to false and deceptive advertising all under a GREEN banner to get cash fom people. Their "Green" moniker has nothing to do with the environment folk. All these people care about is getting green dollars out of your wallet and they don't care how they do it either. They're using that GREEN moniker to gain people's trust. DO NOT be fooled by it. I'd seen all I needed to see.

This morning I get online and see that GreenGeeks.com has sent me a refund memo. GreenGeeks.com has "given" me a partial refund of 133.20. GreenGeeks.com is so money hungrey they've stolen $15 from me.

I email them and tell them that if they don't give me back every dime that they took off my credit card I was going to pursue fraud charges against them via various means. I received an email back telling me that the $15 is for setup fees and are't refundable. WHAT setup fees GreenGeeks.com? Your ad states ZERO SETUP FEES!!! ZERO. I see you people have a problem with numbers. ZERO means none, nada, zilch, NOTHING. They tried to pull the old "terms of service" line. Well there's a problem with that. You cannot EXPLICITY advertise ZERO setup fees and then point to your "terms of service" and charge people setup fees. Doesn't work that way. There is a FEDERAL Truth in Advertising law. I'm sure California has their own as well.

These people are as slippery as wet oil.

DO NOT fall for GreenGeeks.com GREEN lies and deceptive ads the way I, and others have. Just walk away. The only thing GREEN these liars and thieves care about is the green dollars they can steal out of your pocket.

But if you do get trapped in their sticky web there are some things you can do. I'm going to make sure I do them all:

-File a BBB complaint on them (they claim they're registered).

-Contact IC3.gov - Internet fraud white collar crime arm of the FBI - yes, they do investigate things like this

-Your attorney General consumer protection division

-California Attorney General consumer proection department

-Consumerfinance.gov - Federal Consumer Financial Bureau

-Last, but not least, your credit card company.

GreenGeeks.com clearly participates in bait and switch advertising and billing scams. The credit card companies and banks take fraud seriously and can ban these losers from even accepting their cards. Whatever you do, please don't remain silent.

It's only $15 but it's the principal of the matter. Thieves like this use the Internet to prey on people and line their own greedy pockets.

I am thoroughly disgusted with GreenGeeks.com.